Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

We have a fierce predator within our cedar hedge, here in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (near Vermont). This is this diptera I photographied below... I think that this fly is from the Asilidae family. Maybe from the gender Asilus or Laphria... Maybe I'm completly wrong!!! Can you help me to identify this insect. Can I know the family, gender and maybe the species??? Some of the pictures are not of very good quality but may maybe help for the id... You can see that this insect is a predator of Dolichopodidae...

Thank you very much for your help...

More pictures can be found

here
and here
and here
and here
and here

Michel
Sherbrooke Quebec
Canada

Yes, it is a Robberfly. My guess is Dioctria media, but I'm not sure. You can probably use a key on one of the Diptera websites. I believe that it is probably a female, as the males have a pointier terminating segment on the abdomen. Also, I think the sexes may be dimorphic in this genus.

Hello Lizardman,

Thank you very much for your help. I'm sure you're right for the family and gender. For the species I think it is D. hyalipennis (synonym of D. baumhaueri) but I'm unsure...

Bye,

Michel

Michel,

I'd say that you are right on the species. Hey, at least I got the genus...haha.

Take care.